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Lavimoniere Earns Year in Germany

James Lavimoniere
James Lavimoniere

Political Science major James Lavimoniere has been awarded an all-expenses paid, year-long academic and professional experience in Germany through the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals, (CBYX) a highly competitive exchange. Funded by the German Bundestag and U.S. Congress through the U.S. Department of State, this program annually provides 75 young professionals who have a strong interest in cultural exchange the opportunity to study, work, and live with a host in Germany. The CBYX program consists of two months of German language school; four months of classes the participant’s career field at a university, technical school, or professional school; and a five month internship in the career field. Participants are placed throughout Germany on this scholarship program.

“This opportunity means a lot to me,” James said. “I didn’t really know where I wanted to go after graduation. I see a lot of my friends graduate and struggle to find jobs or just figure out what they want to do with their lives. With this program, I now have a great opportunity to get started on a career. Not only does this program offer professional training through the internship phase, but it also offers travel and cultural experiences that I would not have been able to get anywhere else. One of my biggest regrets in college was that I never took a semester to study abroad. This program will allow me to realize that dream.”

“My time at Keene has taught me to be flexible. Freshman year, I never imagined that I would be graduating a Political Science major and going on to live in Germany for a year. My Political Science courses taught me to listen to and understand other’s positions and points of view on various subjects, as well as how to express my own views. These skills were critical to my getting accepted into this program.”

“I have had James in class for two semesters and he is an excellent student,” explained Alison Pantesco, contract lecturer in German. “More importantly perhaps for this opportunity, James has an inquisitive nature and seems quite open to adventure and challenge. It is easy for me to imagine him immersed in the German culture, both at the university and at his internship site. … being fluent in German will open many doors for him, both in his professional and personal life.”

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